– Ma L’ówó (YORUBA)

Ma l’owo o-o,

Ma l’owo o-o;

Ki me l’owo l’omode,

Mo ti a ni l’agba.

A’i l’owo l’omode mo-i s’ole,

Aye ni mo mo bo b’ola o-o-o.

Ma l’owo o-o,

Ma l’owo o-o;

Ki me l’owo l’omode,

Mo ti a ni l’agba.

A’i l’owo l’omode mo-i s’ole,

Aye ni mo mo bo b’ola o-o-o.

(ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA)

I would be rich,

I would be rich;

If not as a young person,

I would be rich when I’m older.

Not being rich young is not lethargic,

Wealth was around before me (after all.)

I would be rich,

I would be rich;

If not as a young person,

I would be rich when I’m older.

Not being rich young is not lethargic,

Wealth was around before me (after all.)

IMAGE: Old Nigerian currency – one pound.